Evan D.
Yelp
Spaghett in Charlotte's Fourth Ward is one of those spots that immediately charms you before you even sit down. Housed in a historic house, the place feels like grandma's Victorian living room got a glow-up, swapping lace doilies for Aperol art and a buzzing craft cocktail bar. I heard they hold a couple of tables for walk-ins, so I rolled the dice and landed at a high-top in the bar room, where the green walls and cozy vibe made me feel like I'd wandered into a pasta speakeasy. First thing I did was ask for a Diet Coke, which got me a polite "no" and the feeling I'd just asked for a Capri Sun at a wine bar. They do Italian sodas and spirit-free drinks, but I kept it humble with Charlotte's finest tap water.
On Sundays and Mondays they offer something called Supper at Spaghett($60), a four-course chef's choice situation that's basically Italian omakase. No menus, no decisions, just vibes and hope they don't hit you with beets. Everything here is locally sourced from NC farms, and you can tell.
First course was a tomato salad with peaches and vinaigrette made from tomatoes grown at Small City Farms. I don't usually mess with tomatoes, but these some were blanched and dressed like they had somewhere important to be, and paired with the vinaigrette they were bright and refreshing. Alongside that came focaccia with kale pesto and whipped ricotta. The bread was perfectly baked, sitting on top of rich olive oil, and that ricotta was so creamy and light it could've floated off the plate.
For the pasta course, my server picked the gnudi, which were ricotta squash-stuffed pillows of joy. Heavy and creamy but the portion was smart, rich, heavy, creamy, and portioned just right that I felt like I was wrapped in an Italian grandmother's hug without needing a nap on her floral couch.
Then came the intermezzo, a slice of sweet potato bread with aioli. The bread was insanely good, moist with just the right sweetness, and honestly I could eat it for breakfast every day. The aioli had a ham-like bite to it, which sounded odd but somehow worked. Still, that bread didn't need any help, it was that good.
For the entrée I got the coulotte steak (sirloin cap), cooked medium rare with a pan sauce in the style of steak Diane, served with mushrooms, potatoes, and broccolini. It was flavorful, tender, and juicy. Didn't blow my socks off, but it was solid, and the sauce tied everything together nicely. Dessert was a bread pudding with apple cider caramel, served warm and reminding me of challah French toast that had wandered into an apple orchard. Good, cozy, but not the most memorable dish of the night.
Overall Spaghett nails the concept of being a neighborhood pasta house with personality. The space is charming, the food is thoughtful, and the menu is playful enough to surprise you without getting too weird. It's Italian food seen through a Carolina lens, with everything sourced from local farms, and the staff keeps things relaxed and approachable. Just make a reservation unless you're feeling lucky, and whatever you do, don't ask for a Diet Coke unless you're ready for the side-eye.
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